Apparatus for semi-automatic, high production die casting

ABSTRACT

A semi-automatic high production die casting machine, involving use of a novel mold arrangement such that fishing sinkers, wheel weights or other such articles or components can be made on a rapid basis out of castable metal without any subsequent trimming or other work with respect to the finished articles or components being necessary.

United States Patent 1 Taft [ 1 APPARATUS FOR SEMI-AUTOMATIC,

HIGH PRODUCTION DIE CASTING [76] Inventor: Barrett L. Taft, 2940 Cove Trail,

Maitland, Fla. 32751 [22] Filed: June 4, 1971 [21] App]. N0.: 149,998

[52] US. Cl. 164/309, 164/119, 425/249,

425/251, 425/806 [51] Int. Cl B22d 17/06, 822d 27/14 [58] Field of Search 425/242, 247, 248,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,049,767 8/1962 Guyot 164/306 3,490,100 1/1970 Funke 425/242 X 3,333,299 8/1967 Florjancic.... 425/250 X 3,542,328 11/1970 Deitrick 425/242 X June 19, 1973 3,283,373 11/1966 Kiefer e1 :11. 164/303 X 3,174,187 3/1965 Sehricvcr 425/800 X 3,701,377 10/1972 Fisher .1 164/113 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 557,595 11/1943 Great Britain 425/247 1,134,823 8/1962 Germany 425/252 885,480 8/1953 Germany 425/242 Primary Examiner--J. Spencer Overholser Assistant ExaminerJ0hn E. Roe'thel Attorney.lulian C. Fenfro 57 ABSTRACT A semi-automatic high production die casting machine, involving use of a novel mold arrangement such that fishing sinkers, wheel weights or other such articles or components can be made on a rapid basis out of castable metal without any subsequent trimming or other work with respect to the finished articles or components being necessary.

11 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PAIENIEU JUN 9% MW 1 M INVENTOR BARRETT L. TAFT PAIENIEB JUN 1 91m Ill/101127! INVENTOR BARRETT L. TAFT O B a ATTORNEY PAINTED- 3,739,838

SHEEI 3 [1f 3 BARRETT L. TAFT APPARATUS FOR SEMI-AUTOMATIC, HIGH PRODUCTION DIE CASTING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the past, a wide variety of machines and methods have been used for the casting of articles or components such as wheel weights, sinkers, bullets and the like out of lead or other such metals, but unfortunately the machines, and the molds used by the machines, were either quite complicated or the methods were slow and tedious. Three part molds were typically utilized in the manufacture of wheel weights, and quite importantly, the use of these prior art arrangements resulted in the casting of components having a considerable sprue or gate portion that had to be trimmed, thus requiring considerable finishing effort.

Typically fishing sinkers and net leads were hand poured in multiple cavity molds, and in such arrangements it similarly has been necessary to fill a sprue or gate hole with the molten metal in order to eliminate voids and to insure the filling of the mold. The sprue or gate is of course an unnecessary piece of metal insofar as the finished product is concerned, that must be trimmed off in order to make a finished piece. Even die cast wheel weights are normally east through a gate and sprue, and this also results in a superfluous piece of metal that has to be trimmed or broken off afterward.

SUMMARY OF THIS INVENTION By comparison, the present invention utilizes a pair of mechanically moved mold components, which are caused to operate semi-automatically in accordance with a highly effective modus operandi. The mold configurations employed in accordance with the primary embodiment, and the other arrangements utilized advantageously result in very little if any sprue being formed at the time that the molding of a component takes place, and therefore no finishing of the components such as by hand is required. By component I mean articles, parts, objects and the like, such of course including weights, sinkers, and bullets.

The mold members have aligned complementary internal configuration, and such members are movable in accordance with this invention between an open position in which they are separated, and a closed position in which they are contiguous, with the mold members when in a closed position defining by virtue of their respective internal configurations, a cavity into which molten metal can be injected during the procedure of making a component. i

Whenthe mold members are in a closed position, they are disposed closely adjacent a hot nozzle through which molten metal selectively can be caused to flow, with a hole being located adjacent the juncture line of the two mold members in substantial alignment with the nozzle, so that the molten metal can be caused to flow into the mold cavity. Significantly, the mold members'have comparatively thin sidewalls at the location adjacent the hole, thus to eliminate any gate and to minimize the amount of sprue formed during the casting of a metallic component.

In the preferred embodiment, the interstices of the mold members are hollow, and water or other coolant is adapted to flow through such hollow portions on a continuous basis. Therefore, because the internal configuration or active portions of the molds are maintained in a relatively cool condition, the molten metal coming in contact with such portions is caused to harden rapidly, thus making a much faster production rate possible than would be the case if uncooled mold members were utilized.

No hand contact with the mold members during a production operation is necessary, for a crosshead is utilized relatively close to the mold members, which crosshead is operationally interrelated with the movement of the mold members. For example, when the crosshead is moved from a first position to a second position, the mold members are caused to move from an open position to a closed position, and move back again into the open position when the crosshead is returned to the first position, thus to allow the metallic component to emerge. Suitable operational means are utilized for manipulating the crosshead between the first and second positions, with this being closely associated with the operation of a molten metal pump such that lead or other castable metal is caused to flow into the molds only when they have been moved by the crosshead into the closed position. Because the pump supplies the lead at a suitable pressure and because the molds are quite thin at the location where they contact the nozzle supplying the molten metal, little if any gate or sprue is formed on the finished component or components being cast.

A variety of castable metal products can be made in accordance with this invention, and for example I can make sinkers or wheel weights incorporating fastening or attachment portions of brass or steel as may be necessary for attachment to a fish line or to a wheel rim, respectively. Alternatively, I can make weights in the nature of net leads of elongate configuration and having a hole running the length of the weight in order that a plurality of these weights may be easily incorporated into the periphery of a large fishing net for example. For the former instance, the operator can insert the fastening or attachment portion in an appropriate part of the mold so that upon the mold being closed and the molten metal caused to flow, the fastening or attachment portion becomes an intrinsic part of the finished metallic component. With regard to the latter type of weight, I may utilize a removable pin on the part of the crosshead nearest the mold members so that when the crosshead is in the second position and the molds closed, the pin protrudes into the mold at a location on the juncture line of the mold members, with the pin being sufficiently long to extend the length of the mold cavity when the molten metal is ready to be injected. Accordingly, the metal flows around the pin as it fills the mold members, and when the mold members have thereafter been separated, the pin is removed by op ra tion of the crosshead, thus resulting in a component having a central hole extending therethrough.

It is therefore a primary object of my invention to provide a semi-automatic die casting machine having a minimum of operative parts, and operable in a rapid, highly effective manner to make finished pieces or components in one operation. I

It is another object of my invention to provide a novel die casting machine utilizing a pair of separable mold halves configured so that virtually no sprue or gate is formed as weights or sinkers are made, thereby eliminating all subsequent trimming and handwork.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide novel mold halves whose interstices are cooled by continuous flow of coolant therethrough, thus providing a maximum speed of solidification of the molten metal injected into the active portions of the mold, and thus greatly increasing the production rate associated with my device.

It is yet still another object of my invention to provide a pair of mold halves that move together and apart in accordance with the motion of a crosshead member, such that weights, sinkers and the like can be effectively and rapidly made by a relatively unskilled or semi-skilled worker without it being necessary for him to have hand contact with the mold members.

Itis still a further object of my invention to provide a removable pin arrangement on the crosshead of a device in which the crosshead moves the mold members together and apart, with the interrelationships being such that the pin protrudes into a suitable hole in the mold halves at a location corresponding to a central portion of the active surfaces of the molds, so that the injected metal can flow around the pin, and the pin caused to create a weight having a central hole extending for the length of the weight.

It is a yet still further object of my invention to provide mold members having sharpened portions such that any gate or sprue that otherwise would be involved is automatically cut off as the mold members are separated.

These and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from a study of the enclosed drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view revealing the overall appearance of my semi-automatic, high production die casting machine, with the mold members being shown in the separated position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view to a somewhat larger scale of the mold, crosshead and handle members of my machine, with the mold members being shown in the closed position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mold members in accordance with the primary embodiment in a laidopen position, this view revealing the internal or active surfaces of the molds, as well as the removable pin that in some embodiments may protrude into the mold member;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a typical net lead of the type made in the molds of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the mold and crosshead arrangement, with dashed lines being utilized at certain locations to show an operative interconnection between the mold members and the crosshead, such that the opening and closing motion of the mold members can be orthogonal to the motion of the crosshead;

FIG. 6 is a view of a mold half of the type used for making a pyramidal shaped weight, this view also showing the relationship of this mold member to the injection nozzle and to the ways upon which the mold member can move;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a mold member and the backjaw upon which the mold member is mounted, this view also showing an upper portion of the ways along which the mold member can move;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view to a large scale of the eccentric arrangement utilized at the location of the interconnection between the rear portion of a backjaw and a portion of the crosshead, such that the stroke or motion of the respective mold member can be carefully controlled;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a novel mold embodiment of the type utilized when the configuration of the component to be cast won't permit a thin wall in the vicinity of the injection hole to be used, this embodiment involving portions of the mold being configured to automatically sever the gate as the mold halves are opened; and

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a novel multicomponent two-part mold of a type usable with this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Turning now to FIG. 1 it will be seen that I have shown a die casting machine 10 having a base portion 12 in the nature of a furnace, in which molten lead, lead-tin alloys, or other such metals or alloys may be contained in a central portion 14. Suitable burners, electric heaters or the like (not shown) are disposed around the base portion in order to cause the castable metal to be melted, and to remain in a molten condition. Associated with the base portion 12 is an upstanding molten metal pump unit 16, arranged to function upon the selective admission of compressed air through pipe 18 to cause molten lead to be ejected through a port 20 of a heated nozzle into the interior of a pair of mold members when they are in the separated position shown in FIG. 1, and it is not until they are in the properly closed position shown in FIG. 2 that lead is caused to be injected through the port 20 into the interior of the mold pair, where the complementary internal configurations are located.

FIG. 1 reveals that a frame 24 is mounted upon the upper front portion of the base portion 12, which frame member includes a pair of parallel bars 26a and 26b, the rear portions of which are supported by a rear frame member 45; see FIGS. 2 and 5. Upon the bars a crosshead-like member 25 is slidable, with movements of this member being caused by manipulation of pivoted handle 28. Thus, the handle can cause the crosshead to move from the open position shown in FIG. 1, into the closed position shown in FIG. 2, with the crosshead being of course moved along the stationary bars 26a and 26b.

When the handle 28 is pivoted about the mounting bolt 29 from the lowered position shown in FIG. 1 into the substantially horizontal position shown in FIG. 2, it acts upon link 30 rather than directly upon the crosshead-like member, and in bringing about this movement, causes movement of this link and the portion of the handle member on the side of bolt 29 nearest the mold into an over-center position that in effect locks the crosshead 25 in the'position causing the pair of molds to be held in the closed position.

As will be explained in detail hereinafter, the' mold halves or members 22a and 22b are mounted upon a pair of backjaw members 21a and 21b, respectively, and because of interaction between portions of the backjaw and crosshead members, the mold halves are caused to be moved together and apart by movements of the cross-head 25. When the mold halves are in the contiguous position shown in FIG. 2, partial holes 40a and 40b, revealed by FIG. 3 to be disposed on mold members 22a and 22b respectively, are arranged to form va hole that coincides with the location of the port 20 shown in FIG. 1, which arrangement makes it possible for molten lead to enter the adjacent recesses of the mold members at such time as the pump 16 is actuated to cause the ejection of lead from port Zll. The operation of the pump will be discussed hereinafter.

The mold members are connected by a tube 23 through which coolant, typically water, flows. The coolant may be injected into back jaw member 21b by means of pipe 27, where it serves to cool moldhalf 22b and thereafter flows through flexible tube 23 to cool moldhalf 22a. Thereafter the coolant flows into back jaw member 210 and then out through pipe or tube 311 for disposal or cooling and recirculation. The principle here involved is an important facet of my invention, for inasmuch as the coolant flows through the interstices of the molds and maintains them in a relatively cool condition, the lead solidifies shortly after contacting the contoured portions of the molds, thus minimizing the length of time the molds need remain closed, and accordingly making a rapid production rate possible.

FIG. 3 illustrates a typical pair of mold members 22a and 22b in the open position, these being shown connected by a fragmentary portion of the flexible watertube 23. The meeting faces of the mold halves are hol lowed in a symmetrical and complementary manner to form cavities or internal configurations 33a and 33b, which is to say that when the mold faces are in abutting relationship, the overall external configuration of the device or component to be cast is defined by the interior or internally contoured portions of the mold formed by members 22a and 22b when in contiguous relationship. In this instance, a fish net lead or sinker 35 as shown in FIG. 4 is made by the particular mold halves shown in FIG 3. This sinker contains a hole 37 extending from one end to the other in the longitudinal direction, which is brought about by the use of a removable pin 38 mounted on a block 39 as shown in FIG. 3. The block 39 is held in operative relationship upon the crosshead by a bolt extending into hole &3, and thence into a threaded hole in the block. Pin 38 is arranged to be inserted in a hole that is formed when the molds are in abutting relationship, with this hole being represented by the indentations 411a and 41b shown in FIG. 3. When a pyramidal-shaped sinker or a component of another configuration not requiring a central hole is to be made, the pin 38 is removed by unscrewing the bolt extending through hole 43 into the block, and removing the pin and block from the crosshead.

Also revealed in FIG. 3 is the fact that the wall thickness at the location of the hole created by the aperture or partial holes 40a and 40b is very thin, which of course is to a large extent responsible for the highly advantageous fact that little if any sprue or gate is formed during the procedure by which sinkers, weights, or the like are made in accordance with this invention.

The pipe-like nozzle member 50 in which port is located is kept hot by a torch, electric heater or the like, so that the lead is always molten up to its face where it touches the mold briefly during injection of the lead. The molds, being water cooled, solidify the lead immediately after filling and when opened, the sinker drops off of the port, where the lead is still molten and no longer under pressure.

It will be noted from an inspection of FIGS. 1 and 2 I that the link or toggle member has mounted thereon a trigger member 42, arranged to actuate anair release button 4d at such time as the toggle member is in the locked position shown in FIG. 2. Upon actuation of the button taking place, compressed air is allowed to flow along pipe 46 shown in FIG. 1 to the pump 16 to cause its actuation and thus to cause an. injection of lead into the molds. It should be noted that this pump and certain other portions of the frame of the machine are of a type manufactured by Kokomo Tool and Die Co., Inc. 1315 S. Home Avenue, Kokomo, Ind. 46901. Springs 48 cause the piston (not shown) of the pump to return each time to the position in which it is ready for the next lead injection. Although I am of course not to be limited to this particular pump, it is quite advantageous to utilize a pump actuated by air pressure in that it assures the filling of the mold and the maintenance of a sufficiently high pressure on the molten lead while it is solidifying. As an example, the air pressure can be 20 to 50 psi, and this of course is ample to prevent voids being created in the components being cast.

As a further point, the pump of "the above-mentioned type has a substantial capacity per stroke, on the order of magnitude of 16 02., which of course makes it possible to cast even sizable components in a highly satisfactory manner. The pump is a double piston arrangement, with one piston in contact with compressed air, and the other with molten lead. When the piston moves down, lead is ejected through the port 20, and when the piston thereafter moves up (as a result of the release of button 44 upon the opening of the handle), the upward movement of the piston advantageously sucks a considerable portion of the lead out of the nozzle member 50, thus leaving the port 20 clear for the next component to be cast.

Although I have shown this device operated by a handle in a semi-automatic manner, it is of course within the scope of my invention to utilize a hydraulic actuator, solenoid or the like for moving the crosshead in both directions, and bringing about the explained operation of the molds, pump and related components.

Turning now to FIG. 5, it will there be seen that I have shown a plan view of some of the key components of my machine, showing for example the crosshead in the withdrawn position in which the mold members are separated, with the handle, though not shown here, necessarily in the non-locked position shown in FIG. 1.

The crosshead 25 is revealed to have a pair of cam track members 32a and 32b secured below its left and right edges, with a pair of bolts 52, for example, being used at each location for securing the members 32a and 32b to the crosshead; see also FIGS. 1 and 2 with re gard to the relationship of the cam. track members and the crosshead. Disposed on the underside of the cam track members 32a and 32b are slots 34a and 34b, respectively. As shown in phantom lines in FIG. 5, these slots are essentially parallel at a location near the crosshead, and then diverge. Disposed in slots 34a and 34b are roller members 36a and 36b, respectively, which roller members are slightly smaller than the slots, and do not move fore and aft with movements of the crosshead and the cam track members, but rather move in a left and right sense as dictated by the configuration of theslots 3% and 34b. FIG. 6 reveals that the mold halves and their respective back jaws are mounted for sliding movement on a pair of spaced ways 54, that reside in a perpendicular attitude to the bars 260 and 26b, thus to guide the molds to move orthogonally with respect to movements of the crosshead. A pair of gibs 56 are bolted to the way to prevent dislodgement of the molds and back jaws from the ways during the time they are moving in response to movements of the cam track members 32a and 32b. The mold half shown in FIG. 6 is of course to be used in the casting of pyramidal-shaped sinkers, with this view also showing the U- shaped brass wire 58 that is inserted by the operator before the molds close, thus to provide a satisfactory means for attaching a line to the resulting sinker, inasmuch as the member 58 becomes an intrinsic part of the sinker.

FIG. 7 depicts a typical mold half and backjaw arrangement, with the mold half preferably being bolted to the backjaw by the use of two or more bolts 60. This view also reveals that the backjaw has a tongue portion 62 that is comparatively thin in contrast with the portion of the backjaw to which the mold half bolts. Upon this tongue portion the roller 36b is rotatably disposed, so as to be in a position to engage the slot 34b. FIG. 8 shows to a somewhat larger scale that the roller 36b is mounted upon an eccentric member 64 that has a circular base received in a suitable circular hole 66 in the tongue 62. Thus, as a screwdriver or other implement is applied to the eccentric member, to cause it to rotate in the tongue, this has the net effect of causing the vertical portion 68 of the eccentric, upon which the roller is mounted, to move in a left-right sense, and this in turn controls the stroke of the back jaw. Adjustment of the rotative setting of the eccentric member in the back jaw tongue is brought acout until such time as the mold halves close tightly and properly together; then the nut 70 is tightened so that the adjustment will be held.

As should now be apparent, the divergent portions of the slots 34a and 34b acting through the rollers 36a and 36b and the back jaws serve to hold the mold halves apart when the crosshead 25 is in the position shown in FIG. 5. Then, when the crosshead is moved toward the mold halves, the configuration of the slots is such that the rollers cause the adjacent edges of the mold halves to be brought together, with the adjustment of the rollers assuring that the mold halves are brought into the proper operative relationship by the time the rollers have moved into the parallel portions of the slots. Such parallel slot portions are of sufficient length to allow for some overtravel.

Turning to the embodiment of FIG. 9, it will be seen in this somewhat enlarged view that I can configure the mold members 72a and 72b to have an automatic degater function. As will be noted, these molds meet at the location of the centerline of the nozzle 50 in which the port 20 is located, with the mold halves having passageways 74 that divide as they leave the vicinity of the port, and then enter the main cavity portion 76 of the mold. The portions of the mold that serve to define these arms have sharpened edges 78 so that as the mold members 72a and 72b are caused to move apart subsequent to the casting of a sinker or the like, the gate portion formed in passageways 74 is automatically removed from the sinker. This embodiment is particularly suitable for use in instances when the configuration of the component to be made won't allow the mold members to be thin in the vicinity of the hole through which molten metal is to be injected.

FIG. shows a mold arrangement different from the others described herein, in that it reveals how a plurality of components such as small sinkers can be cast at the same time, thus greatly increasing the production rate when small components are involved. Though full details are not shown in this view, this embodiment also involves a two part mold arrangement, with which re-' movable pins comparable to pin 39 may be utilized.

I claim:

1. A semi-automatic diecasting machine utilizing a pair of mold members, and means for injecting molten metal into the mold members in order to create a metallic component, said mold members having aligned complementary internal configurations and being movable between an open position in which they are separated, and a closed position in which they are contiguous, said mold members when in the closed position defining by virtue of their respective internal configurations, a cavity into which molten metal can be injected during the procedure of making a component, the interstices of said mold members being hollow, means for causing coolant to flow through such hollow portions on a substantially continuous basis, thus to cause the internal configuration portions of said mold members to stay relatively cool, without the coolant directly contacting such portions, said mold members, when in the closed position, being disposed closely adjacent a heated nozzle through which molten metal on occasion can be caused to flow, with a hole being located adjacent the juncture line of the two mold members in substantial alignment with said nozzle, such that the molten metal can be caused to flow virtually directly into said cavity, the cooled mold members and the heated nozzle causing a substantial temperature gradient to exist between said mold members and nozzle, such temperature gradient and the short distance between nozzle and cavity being such as to effectively prevent the formation of gate and sprue during the casting of a metallic component, whereby when the mold members are reopened and the metallic component removed, such component is ready for immediate use, with no steps directed toward the removal of gate or sprue being necessary.

2. The machine as defined in claim 1 in which said mold members have comparatively thin sidewalls at the location adjacent said hole, thereby reducing to an absolute minimum any location at which gate or sprue could be formed.

3. The machine as defined in claim 1 in which sharpened edges are provided upon certain portions of said mold members adjacent said hole, thereby enabling any buildup of metal in the nature of gate or sprue that has taken place to be cut as the mold members are open.

4. The machine as defined in claim 4 in which a crosshead is utilized, that is movable between first and second positions, the motion of said crosshead being interrelated with the movement of said mold members such that when said crosshead is moved from the frst position to the second position, the mold members are caused to close, and when said crosshead is moved back again to the first position, said mold members are caused to open, so that a cast metallic component can emerge.

5. The machine as defined in claim 4 in which the movements of said crosshead are interrelated with the operation of a molten metal pump arranged to inject molten metal through said hot nozzle when said molds are in said closed position.

6.'A semi-automatic diecasting machine utilizing a pair of mold members, and means for injecting molten metal into the mold members in order to create a metallic component, said mold members having aligned complementary internal configurations and being movable between an open position in which they are separated, and a closed position in which they are contiguous, said mold members when in the closed position defining by virtue of their respective internal configurations, a cavity into which molten metal can be injected during the procedure of making a component, said mold members when in such closed position being disposed closely adjacent to a hot nozzle through which molten metal on occasion can be caused to flow, with a hole being located adjacent the juncture line of the two mold members in substantial alignment with said nozzle, so that the molten metal can be caused to flow into said cavity, said mold members having means to eliminate any gate and to minimize the amount of sprue formed during the casting of a metallic component, said machine utilizing a crosshead movable between first and second positions, the motion of said crosshead being interrelated with the movement of said mold members such that when said crosshead is moved from the first position to the second position, the mold members are caused to close, and when said crosshead is moved back again to the first position, said mold members are caused to open, so that a cast metallic component can emerge, said crosshead utilizing a pin mounted so as to be movable therewith, said pin being positioned so as to coincide with a second hole located adjacent the juncture line of said mold members, latter hole extending into the cavity defined by the respective internal configurations of said mold members, said pin being of sufficient length to reside along said cavity when said crosshead is in said second position and liquid metal is to be injected, thus to cause a hole to be created in the metallic component being formed in said cavity.

7. A semi-automatic diecasting machine utilizing a pair of mold members, and means for injecting molten metal into the mold members in order to create a metallic component, said mold members having aligned complementary internal configurations and being movable between an open position in which they are separated, and a closed position in which they are contiguous, said mold members when in the closed position defining by virtue of their respective internal configurations, a cavity into which molten metal can be injected during the procedure of making a component, cooling means internal to said mold members for cooling said mold members on a substantially continuous basis without directly contacting the internal configurations of said mold members, said mold members when in the closed position being disposed closely adjacent a hot nozzle through which molten metal on occasion can be injected, with a hole being located adjacent the juncture line of the two mold members in substantial alignment with said nozzle, so that the molten metal can be caused to flow into said cavity, said mold members having comparatively thin sidewalls at the location adjacent said hole, which fact, as well as the substantial temperature gradient existing between said mold members and nozzle, thus eliminating any gate and minimizing the amount of sprue formed during the casting of a metallic component.

8. The machine as'defined in claim 5 in which the internal configuration of said mold members is such as to cause a single component at a time to be cast.

9. The machine as defined in claim 5 in which the internal configuration of said mold members is such that a plurality of components is cast :at a time.

10. The machine as defined in claim 7 in which a crosshead is utilized, that is movable between first and second positions, the motion of said crosshead being interrelated with the movement of said mold members such that when said cross-head is moved from the first position to the second position, the mold members are caused to close, and when said crosshead is moved back again to the first position, said mold members are caused to open, so that a cast metallic component can emerge.

11. The machine as defined in claim 10 in which the movements of said crosshead are interrelated with the operation of a molten metal pump arranged to inject molten metal through said hot nozzle when said molds are in said closed position. 

1. A semi-automatic diecasting machine utilizing a pair of mold members, and means for injecting molten metal into the mold members in order to create a metallic component, said mold members having aligned complementary internal configurations and being movable between an open position in which they are separated, and a closed position in which they are contiguous, said mold members when in the closed position defining by virtue of their respective internal configurations, a cavity into which molten metal can be injected during the procedure of making a component, the interstices of said mold members being hollow, means for causing coolant to flow through such hollow portions on a substantially continuous basis, thus to cause the internal configuration portions of said mold members to stay relatively cool, without the coolant directly contacting such portions, said mold members, when in the closed position, being disposed closely adjacent a heated nozzle through which molten metal on occasion can be caused to flow, with a hole being located adjacent the juncture line of the two mold members in substantial alignment with said nozzle, such that the molten metal can be caused to flow virtually directly into said cavity, the cooled mold members and the heated nozzle causing a substantial temperature gradient to exist between said mold members and nozzle, such temperature gradient and the short distance between nozzle and cavity being such as to effectively prevent the formation of gate and sprue during the casting of a metallic component, whereby when the mold members are reopened and the metallic component removed, such component is ready for immediate use, with no steps directed toward the removal of gate or sprue being necessary.
 2. The machine as defined in claim 1 in which said mold members have comparatively thin sidewalls at the location adjacent said hole, thereby reducing to an absolute minimum any location at which gate or sprue could be formed.
 3. The machine as defined in claim 1 in which sharpened edges are provided upon certain portions of said mold members adjacent said hole, thereby enabling any buildup of metal in the nature of gate or sprue that has taken place to be cut as the mold members are open.
 4. The machine as defined in claim 4 in which a crosshead is utilized, that is movable between first and second positions, the motion of said crosshead being interrelated with the movement of said mold members such that when said crosshead is moved from the first position to the second position, the Mold members are caused to close, and when said crosshead is moved back again to the first position, said mold members are caused to open, so that a cast metallic component can emerge.
 5. The machine as defined in claim 4 in which the movements of said crosshead are interrelated with the operation of a molten metal pump arranged to inject molten metal through said hot nozzle when said molds are in said closed position.
 6. A semi-automatic diecasting machine utilizing a pair of mold members, and means for injecting molten metal into the mold members in order to create a metallic component, said mold members having aligned complementary internal configurations and being movable between an open position in which they are separated, and a closed position in which they are contiguous, said mold members when in the closed position defining by virtue of their respective internal configurations, a cavity into which molten metal can be injected during the procedure of making a component, said mold members when in such closed position being disposed closely adjacent to a hot nozzle through which molten metal on occasion can be caused to flow, with a hole being located adjacent the juncture line of the two mold members in substantial alignment with said nozzle, so that the molten metal can be caused to flow into said cavity, said mold members having means to eliminate any gate and to minimize the amount of sprue formed during the casting of a metallic component, said machine utilizing a crosshead movable between first and second positions, the motion of said crosshead being interrelated with the movement of said mold members such that when said crosshead is moved from the first position to the second position, the mold members are caused to close, and when said crosshead is moved back again to the first position, said mold members are caused to open, so that a cast metallic component can emerge, said crosshead utilizing a pin mounted so as to be movable therewith, said pin being positioned so as to coincide with a second hole located adjacent the juncture line of said mold members, latter hole extending into the cavity defined by the respective internal configurations of said mold members, said pin being of sufficient length to reside along said cavity when said crosshead is in said second position and liquid metal is to be injected, thus to cause a hole to be created in the metallic component being formed in said cavity.
 7. A semi-automatic diecasting machine utilizing a pair of mold members, and means for injecting molten metal into the mold members in order to create a metallic component, said mold members having aligned complementary internal configurations and being movable between an open position in which they are separated, and a closed position in which they are contiguous, said mold members when in the closed position defining by virtue of their respective internal configurations, a cavity into which molten metal can be injected during the procedure of making a component, cooling means internal to said mold members for cooling said mold members on a substantially continuous basis without directly contacting the internal configurations of said mold members, said mold members when in the closed position being disposed closely adjacent a hot nozzle through which molten metal on occasion can be injected, with a hole being located adjacent the juncture line of the two mold members in substantial alignment with said nozzle, so that the molten metal can be caused to flow into said cavity, said mold members having comparatively thin sidewalls at the location adjacent said hole, which fact, as well as the substantial temperature gradient existing between said mold members and nozzle, thus eliminating any gate and minimizing the amount of sprue formed during the casting of a metallic component.
 8. The machine as defined in claim 5 in which the internal configuration of said mold members is such as to cause a single component at a time to be cast.
 9. The machine as defineD in claim 5 in which the internal configuration of said mold members is such that a plurality of components is cast at a time.
 10. The machine as defined in claim 7 in which a crosshead is utilized, that is movable between first and second positions, the motion of said crosshead being interrelated with the movement of said mold members such that when said cross-head is moved from the first position to the second position, the mold members are caused to close, and when said crosshead is moved back again to the first position, said mold members are caused to open, so that a cast metallic component can emerge.
 11. The machine as defined in claim 10 in which the movements of said crosshead are interrelated with the operation of a molten metal pump arranged to inject molten metal through said hot nozzle when said molds are in said closed position. 